Apparatus for removing liquids from wells



Oct. 8, 1949. T, EI BRYAN APPARATUS Fon REMovING LIQUIDs FROM wE'LLs Filed Jan. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l O ct. 8, '1949.

T. E. BRYAN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LIQUIDS FROM WELLS 3 vSheets--Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY lil Filed Jap. 24, 193e Ochs, 1940. l T EI BRYAN 2,217,305

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LIQUIDS FROM WELLS Filed Jan. 24, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VWA/W l. I #42 g' 9 ze/ E g A l /5 fw n 4f fw 5x y 5./

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mVENToR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1940 g AFFCE APPARATUS FOR REMOVING HJIQUIIDS FROM WELLS v Thomas E. Bryan, Fort .Worth Tex.

Application January 24, 1938, Serial No. 186,499

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing liquids from wells or the like, and more specifically to intermitter type pumps for removing oil from oil wells by means of gas or air under pressure.

The term intermitter pump has a deiinite meaning in the art toA which it appertains; namely, a pump wherein relatively large quantities of natural gas or atmospheric airV arelintroduced intermittently into the production string to function as expansible pistons between which is entrapped and raised av quantity of well liquid. Pumps of this type should not be confused with iluid pumps which merely aerate the column of liquid in the production string until its average density is lowered to the point that the formation pressure can discharge the aerated column from the Well.

Both types of fluid pumps employ a series of valves, commonly known as kick off valves which are interposed in the production, string. In the intermitter type of pump, each kick off valve is so constructed that it admits a large quantity of gas within the production string below the liquid level therein. Such gas forms an expanding slug or piston which forces the liquid thereabove bodily from the production string. Intermltter type kick off valves are designed to open when the liquid column within the production string reaches arpredetermined maximum height above the valve and remains openl until the pressure at the valve falls to a predetermined minimum. The valve then remains closed until such maximum pressure and height is reached.

In cases where the liquid level in a Well rises naturally to a considerable height but does not iiow, a number of kick off valves are employed and are spaced at intervals along the well tubing or production string before it is run into the Well, these valves are so adjusted that the top valve, for example, will have sufficient fluid above it to cause it to open, thus admitting gas to the liquid within the tubing at a relatively short dis-- tance below the levelof the liquid in the tubing. This tends to force all or a portion of the liquid above this rst valve out of the Well. This valve then closes. The next valve then admits gas into the column of liquid and causes all or part of the liquid thereabove to rise and pass out of the well. This goes Aon until the well has been unloadedv down to the level of the lowermost valve or to such'point Where the iniiow will be as rapid (Cl. B- 232) Well is within the range of the several kick-off valves, conditions are not critical and the requisite number of valvesl are automatically brought into operation as the liquid level varies. But, however, when the natural liquid level becomes very low, it becomes desirable to place a valve at substantially the bottom end of the production string so that, as the liquid rises into the Well, at a predetermined relatively low level, this valve will open and iorce out of the well the liquid which has thus risen, but will then close and permit the liquid to again rise in the well.

` Under 'these conditions, adjustments are critical.

The kick-olic valves are often quite necessary in order to set the well .flowing after an idle period and the Well fluid has temporarily risen above its operating or pumping level, but after the well is lowered t`o its operating level, do not function.

While, within the range'of the'kick-off valves the proper arrangement of the bottom valve, and y further adjustment is necessary as the Well conditions change.

Consequently, it is a primary object of myv invention to provide an intermitter valveapparatus which may be readily and quickly inserted or withdrawn from the production `string Without removing the production string from the well.

Another object is to provide a combination of intermitter valves whereby liquid may be removed from a well with vthe greatest possible eiciency, regardless of the natural pressure existing within the well. v

A further object is to provide a removable intermitter valve apparatus wherein both the intermitter valve and its housing'are removable.

A further object is to provide an intermitter valve and housing therefor which although readily removable is substantially balanced against the pressure diierentials that may occur between the well liquid and the motivating fluid so that there is no tendency for such pressure differentials to disturb the position of the intermitter valve and its housing.

A further object is to provide a novel dual tubing arrangement which, in combination with a packer set above the well liquid level, permits introduction of the motivating iluid to the intermitter valve submerged in the well liquid Without exerting a back pressure on such well liquid.

A further object is to provide an improvement on thev invention shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 55,866, filed De cember 2 3, 1935, for Fluid producing apparatus, and in my application Serial No. 182,764, filed December 31, 1937, for Gas liftapparatus.

A further object is to provide an intermitter valve wherein the motivating uid pressure, or

the pressure differential between the motivating fluid and the pressure existing within the production string has no eiect on the operation of the intermitter valve, said valve being operated entirely by pressure diierentials existing between the production string pressure and the formation pressure orhydrostatic head of the well liquid being pumped, thus providing an intermitter valve which is not sensitive to fluctuations that may occur in the pressure of the motivating uid providing',` of course, that the pressure thereof does not fall below the value required to raise the vwell liquid to the surface.

A still further object is to provide an intermitter valve wherein the motivating uid is applied to the well liquid present in the producing string before the well liquid therein has reached its normal or hydrostatic level, to insure prompt introduction of the motivating fluid, and eliminate excessive lag between operating periods.

A further object is to provide an intermitter valve wherein the supply of motivating uid is abruptly cut off whenever the pressure in thel said drawings and description are by way-of illus- I tration and example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the prior art and bythe terms of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a substantially diagrammatical view of an intermitter type well pumping apparatus embodying my invention and shown in position in a well,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary and partially sectional, partially elevational view taken substantially through 2--2 of Figure l showing the packer and connecting head thereabove,

Figure 3 is a similar enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through 3-3 of Figure 1, showing particularly the well liquid intake valve,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof through 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is another enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 5.-5 of Figure 1, showing particularly, the drop Valve or removable intermitter valve and its housing,

Figure 6 is a further enlarged transverse sectional view through 6 6 of Figure l, showing in detail the intermitter valve housing locking means,

Figure 7 is another enlarged fragmentary sectional view' taken through lI-'I of Figure 8 illustrating in detail the intermitter valve structure per se, y

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 8-8 of Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 9--3 of Figure 1, showing the lower end of intermitter pump structure.

Referring more specically to Figure l, it will be seen that in the well illustrated, there is a casing I 'which is landed above the producing formation in the conventional manner. Set within the casing I is a production string 2, in which is interposed a series of conventional intermitter type kick-oi valves 3.

The lower end of the production string 2 is connected by a special reducer! to a packer 5. The packer includes a conventional packing element 6, cone and slip means 1 and slip reins Ii. The head I0 of the packer, as well as the mandrel or body II thereof, is altered to meet the requirements of my apparatus. More specifically, the head I0 is threaded to receive the enlarged lower end of the reducer 4. A'Ihe head slidably receives the upper end of an inner tubing .I 2 which is sealed relative to the head Il) by a packing gland I3 including a follower sleeve Il which extends into the adapter 4. 'I'he inner tubing I2 is preferably equal in diameter to the production string above.

The lower end of the head IIJ is threaded to the body II of the packer which in turn is connected to an outer tubing string I5. At the upper end of the body II, the body and head are provided with ports I6 communicating from the annular space between theproduction string 2 and casing I to the annular space between the tubings I2 and body II.

At a point below the producing level of the well liquid, there is interposed in the tubing strings I2 and I5 a well liquid receiving valve housing 2|.. The housing is cylindrical in form with a bore 22 therethrough constricted at'its mid portion to the diameter of the inner tubing string I2 and threaded for connection therewith, and enlarged ends 23 threaded for connection with the outer tubing string I5. In registry with the space between the two tubing strings I2 and I5, the housing 2| is provided with longitudinally extending passages 24, shown best in Figure 4. At its mid portion, the housing '2| is provided with radially directed valve chambers 25 in each of which is a ball check valve -2li. Fitted in the outer end of each chamber 25 is a valve seat ring-21, while at the inner end of each chamber is a retainer grill 28. The several check valves 26 coact with the valve seat rings 21 to permit ilow of liquid from the exterior of the housing 2| into the interior of the inner tubing string I2 but prevent outward flow therefrom.

The lower end of the outer tubing string I5 is joined to a reducer adapter 3|, as shown in Figure 9, which in turn is connected to a sleeve 32. The tubing is likewise joined at its lower end to a reducer adapter 33 which fits loosely within .the outer tubing string I5 and which is attached to a hollow stem 34. The stem :tits

Thel liners.

channel 38 which is intersected by ports 39 communicating with the annular space between the I tubing strings I2 and I5.

The liners 36 are adaptedito coact with m1175511 intermitter valve housing structure indicated generally by 4I. The housing structure comprises a central shell 42, threaded at its ends to receive tubular packing mandrels 43 around each of which is fitted cup-shaped packing ele-- ments 44 separated by spacers 45. The series of packing elements and spacers on the lower packing mandrel are retained by a perforated cap 48, which rests on. a stop'ring 41 providedat the lower end of the inner tubing string I2 and, in turn, resting on the adapter 33. The upper set of packing elements and spacers are retained by a perforated capv48. with which is incorporated a locking mechanism to be described hereinafter.

The two sets of packing elements seal against their respective liners 36 and are directed toward the annular space or channel 38 so that the pressure of any fluid entering through ports 39 tends to seal the housing structure with respect to the inner tubing string I2 both'above and below the channel 38.

An intermitter valve unit 5I is mounted within the shell 42. The valve unit comprises a hollow body member 52 supported in spaced relation with the shell 42 by tubular stems` 53 which afford communication from the interior of the body member 52 to the outer side of the shell and, therefore, with the annular space between the tubing strings I2 and I5. `The lower end of the body member 52 is closed by a plug-54 which isv likewise held in spaced relation with the shell 42, but by pins 55 of solid construction. The body member is provided above and below the stems 53 with valve seat rings 58 and 81, respectively, having valve seats on their lower sides. A rod 58 having enlargements thereon forming valve elements!!! and 88 extends through the body member 52 with the valve elements so arranged as to coact simultaneously with the valve seat rings 56 and 51, respectively. The rod 58 and its enlargements form an otherwise substantially balanced valve which tends to assume by gravity a lower or open position. In such position, communication is afforded from the stems 53 upwardly through valve seat ring 58 as well as downwardly through valve seat ring -51 and laterally through ports 8l into the interior of the valve housing structure 4I and tubing string I2.

The rod 58 extends below the body member 52 and plug 54 whereby the end may be engaged' by a free or floating piston 82, slidably mounted between the lower packing mandrel and theintermitter valve unit.

The only pressure that may lift the valve housing structure 4| is the pressure introduced under the piston 62, for all pressure exerted by the motivating fluid entering through ports 38 is balanced. This pressure can only be equal to the head of liquid between the valve housing structure and the well liquid receiving valve housing 2|. In order to insure that'this pressure may not at any time act to lift the valve housing structure 4I, an annular groove 1I is provided around the upper liner 38 near its upper end, which groove is adapted to be engaged by pins 12 carried in the cap 48. The plungers or pins 12 are mounted in cylindrical housings 13,

press fitted in radially vdirected openings provided in the cap 48. Each pin is provided with 'a cam rider head 14 at its inner end and is yieldably urged to an inner or retracted position with its outer end clear ofthe groove 1I by a spring 15.!`

The cap 48 is provided with a vertical bore therethrough in which is l-tted a stemv18 having a frusto-conicarcam portion 18 near its lower end and terminating in a flanged end 11. The upper end stem 18 is fitted with an extension 18 having wlckers 19 thereon for coaction with an overshot or other fishing tool, whereby the intermi-tter valve housing structure 4I may be raised or lowered.

The stem 18 is capable of limited sliding move-- .ment `with respect to the head 48 and has an upper position, assumed when the housing structure is being raised or lowered, wherein the cam portion 16L is opposite the heads 14 of the locking pins 12 permitting the springs 15 to urge the pins 12 inwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. When. however, the valve housing structure 4I is in position and downward pressure is brought to bear on the stem 18, the cam portion 1li8L in moving downwardly, urges the pins 12 outwardly into the groove 1I. When the housing is to be retrieved, the reverse action occurs; that is, the stem 18 first moves upwardly to permit retraction of the pins 12, whereupon continued upward movement lifts the entire valve housing structure.

In order to prevent accidental operation of the locking device, a shear pin 88 may be inserted through the head 48 and stern 16. Said shear pin is shown in Figure 5 after it has been severed and the stem 18 has moved to its lower position. Passages 8| extend through the cap 48 to afford communication between the interiors of the housing 42 and the production string.

Operation of my intermitter pum-p is as follows:

During the initial operation of my intermitter,l

thatis, before the well liquid has fallen below the level at which the kick off valve can function, the intermitter valve housing structure is omitted. Under these initial conditions. the upper kick-off valve functions first, when the liquid level in the production strings drops down, the second kick-off valve functions, and so on. When the pumping level of the well has dropped below the lowermost kick-'off valve, the housing structure 4I is dropped or lowered into position,

'as shown in Figure 5.

With the housing structure in position, oil in the well bore, being unable to rise through the bottom of the tubing, will be compelled to rise a distance on the outside of the outer tubing string I5 to the level of the fluid entry ports or check valve chambers 26 and pour into the inner tubing I2, or liquid discharge conduit on top of the intermitter valve housing structure 4I, until the static head within the inner tubing string I2- equals that in thel formation. Until this condition obtains, the excess static head on th'e outside of the outer tubing string I5 causes the piston 62 to assume the upper dotted position shown in Figure 7, wherein the intermitter valve unit 5I is held closed. 'When equilibrium is reached, the

' intermitter valve unit 5I opens, admitting a moticloses the intermitter valve unit against the gasor air supply.

Thereupon, the fluid entry ports or check valve chamber 25 again open and the cycle is re- It should be noted that the quantity of well liquid delivered with each cycle is the amount contained in the inner tubing string between the intermitter valve unit 5l and the check valve chambers irrespective of fluctuations in the pressure of the motivating fluid.

Though I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to k be limited thereto, but desire to include the constructions, combinations, and arrangements substantially as embraced in the appended claims.

I claim:

v1. An apparatus for raising well liquids, comprising: a liquidvdischarge conduit including a check valve controlled liquid intake means spaced upwardly from its lower end, and a motivating fluid receiving port below said liquidl intake means; a motivating fluid conduit communicating with said port; a valve housing adapted to be passed along said liquid discharge conduit and y including sealing means engageable with said liquid discharge conduit on opposite sides of said port; an intermitter valve unit mounted in said valve housing and communicating with said port between said sealing` means and with said liquid discharge conduit; said sealing means and said -intermitter valve unit having pressure faces in substantial balance with respect to the motivating fluid whereby said motivating fluid is ineffective to disturb the position of said intermitter valve or said valve housing; and means responsive to dierence in the liquid levels existing within the liquid discharge conduit and the well bore to control said intermitter valve.

2. An apparatus for raising well liquids, comprising: a liquid discharge conduit; an intermitter valve structure adapted to be moved along said conduit and come to rest adjacent its lower end; said valve structure and discharge conduit having motivating fluid receiving ports ada-pted to register; sealingl means between said valve structure and conduit for isolating the communication between said ports; a liquid intake port in said conduit above said motivating uid port whereby said conduit receives between said ports a predetermined charge of well liquid; means for supplying a motivating iiuid to said motivating fluid ports; and means responsive to difference in .liquid levels within said conduit and in the well bore for controlling said valve structure to admit and shut off the supply of motivating fluid..

3.v An apparatus for raising well liquids, comprising.: a well liquid discharge conduit having a motivating fluid receiving port near its lower end and a well liquid receiving intake means spaced upwardly therefrom; an intermitter valve structure adapted to move freely through said conduit to a position of rest near its lower end, said in- I termitter valvestructure including a housing -having a passage therethrough and a lateral intake port for motivating fluid adapted to register with the motivating iluid-port of said conduit,

sealing means on opposite sides of said'ports toy direct the motivating fluid into the passager of\ vsaid housing, an intermitter valve unit in said housing for controlling the admission of said motivating fluid, said intermitter valve unit being substantially balanced with respect to the moti- 'vating fluid and normally occupying an open position, a pressure responsive means in the passage of said housing exposed below to the Well liquid in the'well bore and above to the well liquid in the conduit, said pressure responsive means adapted to close said valve unit when the liquid head in thev well bore exceeds by a predetermined value the pressure in the conduit; and

means for supplying a motivating uid to said 4. An apparatus for raising well liquids, comprising: a production string; a packer carried thereby; a pair of tubing strings depending from the packer and forming an inner liquid discharge conduit communicating with said production string, and an outer motivating iiuid conduit communicating with the space between the production string and well above the packer and having a delivery port communicating with the liquid discharge conduit at its lower end; a liquid intake unit interposed in said tubing string communicating 'between the well bore below the packerrand the liquid discharge conduit; and a drop valve structure'adapted to be loweredy into said liquid discharge conduit and including an intermitter valve unit, means for forming a sealing connection between the valve unit and motivating fluid conduit, and means responsive to pressure differentials between liquid in said discharge conduit and inthe well bore below the packer for controlling said intermitter valve unit.

5. An apparatus for raising well liquids, comprising: a^production string; a packer carried thereby and adapted to seal against the well bore; an outer tubing string depending from the packer and communicating with the area between the production string and well above the packer; a liquid intake coupling interposed in the outer tubing string including longitudinal passages a fording communication along the tubing string, a central bore, and a check valve controlled port between the bore and the exterior of the outer tubing string; an inner tubing string extending upwardly and downwardly from said coupling; a slidable packing connection between said inner tubing string and production string; and a, slidable sealing connection between said inner and outer tubing strings-at their lower ends, and a motivating fluid intake port communicating between said tubing strings below said intake coupling; and a drop valve adapted to be lowered through said inner tubing string including an intermitter valve unit in communication with said motivating fluid intake port, and means responsive to the difference in liquid levels in the well bore below the packer and in the inner tubing string to control said intermitter valve unit; and

` means for supplying a motivating fluid through the space between said tubing strings to said moliquid intake unit interposed in said tubing string communicating between the well bore below the packer and the liquid discharge conduit; and an intermitter drop valve structure adapted to be lowered into said liquid discharge conduit, said drop valve structure including a housing having,

a longitudinal passage therethrough; a valve case mounted in said passage, a motivating iuid sup- ,ply port communicating from the exterior of said housing to the interior of said valve case and adapted to register with said delivery port, a substantially balanced valve mounted in said case and adapted to occupy normally an open position, pressure responsive means associated with said valve for closing the valve when a predetermined pressure differential exists between the liquid in the discharge conduit and the liquid in the well bore below the packer.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the intermitter drop valve structure is provided with pressure responsive sealing means on opposite sides of the motivating fluid port engageable with the discharge conduit above and below the motivating fluid delivery port to form a sealed communication therebetween.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the intermitter drop valve structure is provided with a series of cup-shaped sealing elements carried'by said housing on opposite sides of and directed toward the motivating fluid port, whereby, when said motivating uid port and delivery port are in communication, said sealing elements seal the communication therebetween,

said sealing elements having substantially equal pressure areas whereby the pressure of motivating fluid entering said port is ineffective to disturb the position of said valve structure.

9. An apparatus `for raising well liquids, comprising: a production string; a packer carried thereby and adapted to seal against the surrouding well bore; an outer tubing string depending from the packer-and communicating with the area between the production string and well above the packer; a liquid intake coupling interposed in the outer tubing string including longitudinal passages affording communication Valong the tubing string, a central bore, and a check valve controlled port between the bore and the exterior of the outer tubing string; an inner tubing string extending both upwardly and downwardly from said coupling; a slidable packing connection between the inner tubing string and production string, a slidable sealing connection between4 said inner and outer tubing strings at their lower ends, the space between the production string and well bore above the packer, and the space between the tubing strings below the packer forming a motivating uid conduit, and' a delivery port therefrom into the lower end of the inner tubing string; and an intermitter drop valve structure adapted to be lowered through said production string and inner tubing string, said drop valve structure including a housing having a longitudinal passage therethrough; a valve case mounted in said passage, amotivating fluid supply port communicating from the exterior of the housing to the interiorof said` valve case and adapted to register with said delivery port, a substantially balanced valve element mounted in said case and adapted to occupy normally an open position, and pressure responsive means associated with said valve for closing the valve when the pressure in the well bore exceeds by a predetermined amount the pressure in the production string.

10. An apparatus asset forth in claim 9, wherein the intermitter drop valve structureis pro' vided with readily separable sealing means on opposite sides of .the motivating fluid port engageable with the inner tubing string to prevent leakage between the housing and inner tubing string.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the intermitter drop valve structure is provided with a series of cup-shaped sealing elements carried by said housing on opposite sides of and directed toward the motivating fluid port, said sealing elements being engageable with the inner tubing string to prevent fluid leakage between the drop valve structure and inner tubing string and having substantially pressure areas whereby the pressure of motivating fluid entering said port is ineffective to disturb the position of said valve structure.

l2. An apparatus for raisin'g well liquids, comprising: a liquid discharge conduit; a motivating uid conduit; a delivery port communicating from the uid conduit to the discharge conduit near their lower ends; a drop valve housing adapted to be lowered in the discharge conduit including an intermitter valve element suspended in the mid-portion of said housing, there being a passage through said housing around said intermitter valve element, packing means carried by said valve housing adapted to seal the space between the valve housing andv discharge conduit on opposite sides of the delivery port and passage means whereby communication is established between the valve element and motivating fluid conduit; handle means for lowering and raising y said drop valve housing; and a locking mechacoacting receiver therefor incorporated in the t lower end of a tubing string, of a locking means for said drop valve structure, comprising: a body member forming a part of the valve structure; a laterally movable locking pin mounted in said body member and adapted to engage a registering groove in said receiver when said valve structure is in position therein; a lifting means for said valve structure slidably associated with said body memberand operatively connected with said pin to urge the same into said registering groove by movement of said lifting means relative to said body member upon .positioning of said valve structure in said receiver, said lifting means having a position free' of said pin when in a position to support said body member; and yieldable means tending to restrain said pin in an 'inoperative position.

key-way means incorporated in said housing and' receiver; and means engageable from within the vtubing for holding said keys in said key-ways,

said means adapted when so engaged to release said keys whereby said drop valve may be withdrawn.

THOMAS E. BRYAN. 

